In the Bible, two Gilgals are identified. The first Gilgal is introduced in Deuteronomy 11:29-30, as having Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal in front of it. The second Gilgal got its name because the Israelites were circumcised there after they crossed the Jordan river, and God said unto Joshua: This day have I rolled away (the Hebrew word for Gilgal means 'roll') the reproach of Egypt from off you (Joshua 5:9). The location of this second Gilgal is in the east border of Jericho (Joshua 4:19) on the west side of Jordan river. Apart from these two introduction of Gilgals, there are no other Gilgals introduced throughout the Bible.
The Gilgal mentioned in Judges 3:19 is referring to the second Gilgal, which can be determined by geological location: Ehud was crossing the Jordan river to Moab from his home c0untry (Ehud is a Benjamite).
The Gilgal mentioned in Joshua 12:23 should be the first Gilgal, because the second Gilgal was too new to have any Canaanite king in that area honored in that new name. And if you study the map, the other kings mentioned in the context (such as of Dor and Megiddo) are from areas close to the first Gilgal. From the solemn transaction of the reading of the law in the valley of Shechem between Ebal and Gerizim the Israelites moved forward to Gilgal, and there made a permanent camp (Josh. 9:6; 10:6). It was "beside the oaks of Moreh," near which Abraham erected his first altar (Gen. 12:6, 7). This was one of the three towns to which Samuel resorted for the administration of justice (1 Sam. 7:16), and here also he offered sacrifices when the ark was no longer in the tabernacle at Shiloh (1 Sam. 10:8; 13:7-9). To this place, as to a central sanctuary, all Israel gathered to renew their allegiance to Saul (1 Sam. 11:14). At a later period it became the scene of idolatrous worship (Hos. 4:15; 9:15). It has been identified with the ruins of Jiljilieh, about 5 miles southwest of Shiloh and about the same distance from Bethel.
The two Gilgals, as I am thinking about them, seems to typify the current world and the world to come. The first one is the current Gilgal, where blessings and curses are announced, and will eventually be rolled away (Gilgal means rolling). The second one the the future Gilgal: where the reproach will be rolled away from all Israel.
In the eyes of God, the current world is so short as to be like something rolling away. We are here only for a very short while. To those who endures this extremely short while shall be awarded the glory of eternity!
Praise Him! Amen.
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